All three returning state qualifiers took that motto to heart during the offseason. Brock jumped up two weight classes, from 130 to 140, Davis is moving up to 189 from 171 and Hamm, who was 119 as a junior, now will compete was 119 as a junior, now will compete at 145. They accomplished that by working together, going to wrestling camp, competing with each other and, of course, lifting weights.

Joined by fellow seniors Robert Brotherton (145), Jon Harris (135) and Blaize Oelschlaeger (152), the three are now ready to lead their team this season.

“That group of seniors,” Goebel said, “really lets the kids know what they need to do.”

After taking six grapplers to state in ’08, which tied a THS record, the seniors hope to break that mark come February.

Goebel thought it was a great goal to set, and knew that was the team’s mind-set heading into this season. He said they have a lot of fine-tuning to do, but the work ethic and dedication appears to be there. Ultimately, the coach opined, the Chieftains might have to beat some opponents they aren’t expected to, but that is part of improving the program.

The returning state qualifiers aren’t the only wrestlers primed for success this year either. Goebel expects a lot from a few of his juniors — Austen Holloway, a 185-pounder giving up some weight at the 215 class, Jeremie Maus (171) and Jeremy Elliott (160).

“That kid’s the poster child for our wrestling program,” Goebel said of Elliott, praising him for his patience while wrestling at the junior varsity level the past two years behind varsity starter Wyatt Coffin.

The coach said now Elliott has a chance as a relative unknown to get in the lineup and make an immediate impact.

“Everyone who gets in that varsity lineup I expect big things from,” Goebel said, noting that although the youngest grapplers have a big learning curve, they should contribute by the end of the season.